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Biomedical subjects

S Gallagher

Publications and source records attributed to S Gallagher.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Multiple microsample analysis of intratumor estrogen receptor distribution in breast cancers by a combined biochemical/immunohistochemical method.

A multiple microsample analysis of estrogen receptors (ER) was performed on 81 samples obtained from 21 human breast cancers using a biochemical (BC) and immunohistochemical (IHC) method. Qualitative agreement occurred in 96% of the cases. Using both the percentage of cells staining specifically for ER as well as the intensity of staining (Histoscore) a semiquantitative correlation between the two analyses was obtained. Large variations in cellularity and the percentage of cells that stained specifically for ER existed within individual tumors. In most cases the variation in intensity of staining was minimal. Both the level and distribution of ER in different areas of individual tumors were calculated using a correction for differences in cellularity amongst samples. Heterogeneity in ER level as well as distribution was found in some tumors. In addition, a "checkerboard" type of staining with intermixed ER positive and ER negative cells was observed. This combined BC/IHC method may provide specific information about intratumor ER heterogeneity not available from either method alone.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Influence on patient management of general practitioner direct access to radiological services.

We have looked at the effect of open radiological access on patient management during a 2-year prospective study in the radiology department of a teaching hospital and two general practices. Five hundred and thirty consecutive requests for radiological examination were studied. Chest radiographs (29.8%) and barium meals (17.4%) were the investigations most commonly requested. At the time of referral general practitioners indicated that if open radiological access had not been available, 78% of the patients would have been referred to specialist clinics. They also indicated that with a normal initial radiological examination only 12% would need referral to a specialist department. Open access appears to save outpatient consultations.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1987

Peripartal changes in serum alkaline phosphatase activity and lactate dehydrogenase activity in dairy cows.

Peripartal serum alkaline phosphatase activity and lactate dehydrogenase activity were measured in 30 dairy cows in order to examine the association between retained fetal membranes and enzyme activity. Daily blood samples were obtained from pregnant cows, starting 15 days before the expected day of calving until eight days after parturition. Sera from 15 cows which retained fetal membranes longer than 24 hours and 15 cows which shed fetal membranes within six hours after parturition were analyzed for alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase enzyme activities. Mean alkaline phosphatase enzyme activities ranged from 15.93 to 32.6 U/L in retained and nonretained placenta cows. There was a trend towards higher serum alkaline phosphatase activities in retained placenta cows but the differences were not significant among the groups (P greater than 0.05). Mean lactate dehydrogenase activities ranged from 307.2 to 438.86 U/L in nonretained and retained placenta cows. Lactate dehydrogenase enzyme activities in nonretained and retained placenta cows were similar (P greater than 0.05). The alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase enzyme activities peaked at the time of parturition in both groups. However, the differences in alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase activities on different days within non-retained and retained placenta cows were significant (P less than 0.05). Results indicate that prepartal changes in alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase enzyme activities are not predictive of placental retention postpartum.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1986

Oxalate degradation by gastrointestinal bacteria from humans.

Anaerobic bacteria that metabolize oxalic acid have only recently been isolated from the rumen and from other gastrointestinal habitats. They constitute a new genus and species, Oxalobacter formigenes. This report presents the first comparison of cultural counts of these organisms from human feces and indicates that numbers as high as 10(7)/g may be present in feces from normal humans. Rates of oxalate degradation by mixed bacterial populations in feces from seven normal humans ranged from 0.1 to 4.8 mumol/(g X h). With fecal samples from eight patients that had undergone jejunoileal bypass surgery, rates were much lower [0-0.006 mumol/(g X h)]. We propose that oxalic acid degradation by Oxalobacter formigenes may influence absorption of oxalate from the intestine and that lower rates or lack of oxalate degradation in the colons of jejunoileal bypass patients may contribute to the increased absorption of dietary oxalate and the hyperoxaluria commonly associated with such patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Adrenal insufficiency and bilateral adrenal enlargement: demonstration by computed tomography.

A patient presented with fever, malaise and a staphylococcal wound infection occurring 3 weeks after severe haemorrhage from a lacerated brachial artery. There were no clinical features to suggest Addison's disease but abdominal computed tomography to exclude abdominal sepsis showed bilateral adrenal gland enlargement with preservation of adrenal shape. This was consistent with resolving adrenal haemorrhage or infarction and endocrinological investigations confirmed primary adrenal failure.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1985

Hot air breathing: effects of elevated wet bulb temperatures on tissue temperatures of the mouth.

Six healthy young men breathed room air or one of nine hot humid air conditions on separate days for one hour while walking on a treadmill (40% VO2 max). Inspired wet bulb temperatures ranged from 18.9 (room air) to 49.3 degrees C. Tissue temperatures in the mouth were measured by means of thermocouples placed on the tongue and hard palate. Analysis of variance on repeated measures showed significant increases in both tongue and hard palate tissue temperatures (p less than 0.001) as a result of increasing wet bulb temperatures; however, core temperature and heart rate were not affected (p greater than 0.05). Ratings of subjective discomfort increased proportionally with increases in wet bulb temperature of the inspired air. It was concluded that wet bulb temperature of inspired air is a valuable measure to uses in studying temperature responses of mouth tissues when inhaling hot humid air, particularly when investigating human tolerance levels in order to recommend federal standards for the design of breathing apparatus.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Streak artefacts of the thoracic aorta: pseudodissection.

Streak artefacts running across images of the aorta can mimic aortic dissection on CT. We have compared 12 patients suffering from dissection with 45 others. Some artefacts were found in every patient. Such misleading appearances were more obtrusive in dissectors. However, we have found several pointers that help distinguish true intimal flaps from artefacts. Flaps are usually thin structures showing mild curvature. Artefacts are generally linear and vary in thickness. Their orientation may change markedly from one CT section to the next; they frequently extend beyond the confines of the aorta. In the ascending aorta, artefacts usually run at an angle of approximately 66 degrees to the coronal plane; especial care should be taken before diagnosing a straight intimal flap in that orientation. Careful study of images on the monitor rather than on film is a further help in the important distinction between artefact and intimal flap.

Aortic Dissection↗
PubMed1983

Ultrastructural and biochemical observations on the effect of 4-hydroxyanisole plus tyrosinase on normal human melanocytes and keratocytes in tissue culture.

Cultures of melanocytes and keratocytes were exposed to 15 micrograms ml-1 tyrosinase and 4-hydroxyanisole (4-OHA) 5 X 10(-4) M to 5 X 10(-2) M for 1 to 24 h. No damage was suffered by either cell below 5 X 10(-3) M 4-OHA for 6 h, but higher concentrations and longer exposures extensively damaged both cells. Exposure of cells washed free of culture medium to tyrosinase and 4-OHA 1 X 10(-3) M for 1 h resulted also in extensive damage. This indicates that an early-formed toxic product of the reaction between tyrosinase and 4-OHA is inactivated by constituents of the medium. This was confirmed by Liquid Chromatography and Scanning Spectrophotometry which showed that a toxic 4-OHA quinone immediately reacted with nucleophilic substances in the medium resulting in products which, on accumulation, are probably responsible for the later (6 h plus) damage to melanocytes and keratocytes. A possible effect of allegedly specific melanocytotoxic drugs on keratocytes should always be borne in mind with tissue culture experiments.

Anisoles↗
PubMed1983

Ultrasound has no anti-inflammatory effect.

The use of therapeutic ultrasound within the Health Service is widespread and growing. The most common indication is to reduce inflammation. We have tested the influence of ultrasound on a model of acute inflammation in the rat, and we have found a complete absence of any anti-inflammatory action.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Mechanism of scorpion toxin-induced enzyme secretion in rat pancreas.

Scorpion venom induces acute pancreatitis in humans and stimulates pancreatic hypersecretion in several animal species. To clarify whether scorpion toxin influences pancreatic function directly by stimulating the acinar cells or influences pancreatic function indirectly by stimulating pancreatic nerves, we measured amylase release from both rat pancreas lobules (containing both acinar cells and nerves) and isolated rat pancreatic acini (acinar cells only). Scorpion toxin stimulated amylase release from lobules to a similar extent as did carbamylcholine, an acetylcholine agonist. In these lobules, the effect of scorpion toxin was blocked by both atropine (an inhibitor of the cholinergic receptor on acinar cells) and tetrodotoxin (a selective blocker of Na+ channels in nerves). In contrast, the effect of carbamylcholine was blocked by atropine, but not by tetrodotoxin. In isolated pancreatic acini, carbamylcholine was without effect. We conclude that scorpion toxin influences pancreatic function indirectly by stimulating the release of acetylcholine from pancreatic nerves.

Amylases↗
PubMed1980

Effect of azelaic acid on human malignant melanoma.

In 23 patients with malignant melanoma, including some with metastases and terminal patients, topical and oral (10--15 g daily) azelaic acid given for 1--12 weeks before surgical excision of the lesions was followed by arrest and subsequent regression of the advancing edge of lesions, reduction in size and flattening of nodular areas, and progressive lightening of pigmentation. Histological and ultrastructural effects included: degeneration and disappearance of malignant epidermal and dermal melanocytes with reduction of junctional activity; epidermal proliferation and return towards normal organisation; reappearance of papillary dermis, pilosebaceous units, and sweat glands; separation of dermal melanoma tumour masses into smaller collections of cells by regenerating connective tissue; and increase in number of dermal mast cells, macrophages, and round cells. These preliminary results indicate a direct cytotoxic effect of azelaic acid on melanocytes of human melanoma.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1976

Reticulum-cell sarcoma of the cervix.

Four patients with primary reticulum-cell sarcoma of the cervix were described. One patient was treated with radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy. The pelvic lymph nodes contained metastatic cancer and the patient died shortly after disseminating disease. The other three patients were treated with external radiation and vaginal and intrauterine radium application. The complete work-up failed to reveal cancer outside the pelvis or evidence of systemic disease. Two of these patients had an exploratory laparotomy with biopsies of pelvis and para-aortic lymph nodes and of the liver. One of these patients had a splenectomy, with no evidence of disease. Both patients are alive with no evidence of disease 3 and 10 years after their treatment. The third patient treated by radiation therapy died 2 years later with no evidence of disease. The importance of complete staging work-up and the advantage of radiation therapy in the treatment of reticulum-cell sarcoma of the cervix is emphasized.

Adult↗